Magpie Lark nesting in deciduous tree

[calyptorhynchus <>]

Here in suburban Canberra we have Magpie Larks nesting in a deciduous tree in our backyard. 

The nest is nearing completion, but at the moment the tree has not yet put out leaves (probably will have done so in a couple of weeks).

In previous years they (or other ML pairs) have nested in tall Eucalypts nearby, this is the first year they have nested here.

My question is, why built in a tree that is as yet a bare tree. Surely they can't know it's going to leaf in a few weeks and so the shade and protection might be better than a native tree; at the moment there is no shade and no protection. Magpies often nest in deciduous trees, but Magpies are more formidable than MLs and can fight off more predators. Has anyone ever seen MLs nesting a dead native tree?

--

John Leonard
Canberra

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